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Poison for Primping
Primping up the yard in the suggested 'pesticides for profits way', is,
in the long run, doing much more damage to us all. Even said,
governments continue to allow cooperation to their corporate sellers
with pockets full of influence.
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Warning, pesticides in use and I can't sleep
02 June 2007 - thedailyobserver.ca
Editorial - Saturday, June 02, 2007 @ 09:00
Editor:
I woke up at 3 a.m. this morning. My heart was aching, my mind
wouldn't turn off and allow me to go back to sleep. I don't usually
enjoy writing but sometimes my lack of peace of mind pushes me to do
things I would otherwise not want to do. So here I am.
The other day while biking through my neighborhood I couldn't help but
notice all the signs on the lawn. Pesticides in use. The one
that stuck out for me was "Warning- Pesticides in Use." My
heart sank as I witnessed sign after sign. Being an
environmentalist I can't help but grieve for our planet and for the
many ways that we continue to abuse her.
When I see in big letters- "Warning" that gives me the shivers. My
body feels sick as I realize that I am breathing in all these
chemicals that are floating in the air. My soul is frightened because
I visualize that the next sign we may see is Contaminated water -
don't drink."
We don't seem to want to make any changes to our lifestyle until we
are really uncomfortable. What is it going to take? Some kind of
catastrophe. I would much sooner be proactive in order to protect the
well being of this wonderful planet of ours.
It is so easy for us to become apathetic and move to a point of
despair when it comes to dealing with our environmental concerns. A
few weeks ago I had the chance to be part of a workshop on the
environment with John Seed an activist from Australia. He gave us a
DVD entitled: "Despair and Empowerment."
It was amazing to realize that if we all make little changes, take
baby steps, how much effect we can have on our planet. Mr. Seed
pointed out that governments are not likely to be proactive with the
environment but pockets of cities throughout. It was so encouraging to
hear in the news a month ago that the city of Fredericton in New
Brunswick met for an environmental summit and have set the goal to
meet Kyoto targets. I wonder if Pembroke is on the environmental page.
After seeing all the pesticide signs I had to keep myself from putting
another sign alongside of it: "Warning - survival of our children
is at risk."
It is not my intent to make anybody feel guilty about using
pesticides. My only hope in writing this article is that we will be
increasingly more environmentally conscious so that the decisions we
make will be based on what is best for the benefit of this great
planet. When we begin the journey of realizing that our souls are so
interconnected to the soul of the earth we will soon find ourselves
sick when we imagine ourselves consuming these chemicals we insist on
using in order for us to maintain our green lawns. In this case green
does not mean that we are for a green planet.
Many Canadian municipalities are grappling with the issue of
pesticide use on residential properties.
Pesticides are regulated at the federal level in Canada by the Pest
Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) through a program of pre-market
scientific assessment of new pesticides and re-evaluation of
registered pesticides. Provinces and territories administer pest
management programs in their jurisdictions, including education and
training programs developed in conjunction with the PMRA). On May 6,
1991, the Town of Hudson became the first municipality in Canada to
pass a bylaw regulating pesticide use on residential property. The
Canadian Supreme Court decision of 2001 (Chemlawn/Spraytech vs.
Hudson, Quebec) confirmed that municipalities can regulate urban
pesticide use based on health considerations. More than 60 municipal
bylaws have now been passed in Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova
Scotia and British Columbia, to limit the cosmetic (no-essential) use
of residential pesticides. Quebec, in March 2003, introduced a new
province-wide pesticide Management Code, to be phased in over three
years, that strictly regulates the storage, sale and use of
pesticides.
Pesticides Free Ontario has come up with 10 alternatives to using
pesticides.
1.Chose the right grass: Choose drought-tolerant grass seeds and
spread them on your lawn every fall (over-seed). A thick lawn will
crowd out weeds.
2. Mow high: To discourage weeds, keep your lawn mower blade at a
height of 7cm. (3 inches). Never cut off more than one-third of the
grass stem at a time.
3. Grasscycle: Leave your grass clippings on the lawn to return
nutrients to the soil. This will reduce moisture.
4. Top-dress and fertilize: Once a year in the fall, use a
slow-release granular fertilizer or apply a top layer of natural
organic matter such as compost(top-dress).
5. Let your lawn breathe: Once a year, remove small plugs of earth to
allow air and water to get to the roots (aerate). A pesticide-free
lawn will encourage earthworms, nature's aerators.
6. Water the roots: Let your lawn soak up 2-3 cm.( inch ) of water,
once a week, early in the morning, to promote deep root growth. If it
has rained, adjust your watering . Use a rain gauge to measure water
level.
7. Remove thatch: Thatch, a thick compacted layer of dead plants and
grass, attracts harmful insects. Too much thatch stops water and
nutrients form getting to the roots. Remove thatch by gently raking
your lawn in late spring or early summer. Aerate. To prevent thatch,
don't over water or over fertilize.
8. Develop a tolerance for a few dandelions weeds and insects. Most
insects are not harmful. Some are important to our environment.
9. Control weeds and insects: Dig out weeds and their roots by hand.
Pour boiling water on weeds that are growing between patio stones,
etc. Use a stick or your hands to knock insects off plants into a dish
of soapy water.
10. Consider alternative plants: Alternatives to grass include trees,
shrubs, perennials, ground covers, and wild flowers (native species
wok best).
Here's hoping that we will develop a city consciousness to ensure the
future and well being for our children and grandchildren on this
magnificent part of the planet. Here's hoping that we will begin to
feel the pain we are causing mother earth and that we will set in
motion the journey of nurturing her as she has nurtured us. And please
help me get a better nights sleep.
Thanks.
Rev. Rick Metcalfe
Pembroke |
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The
The
Labors in the Spirits of
Science
Living on the Lost Planet 
